Dubai is renowned across the world as a playground for the wealthy, with luxurious cars a commonplace sight. What one might not expect however are for some of those cars to be driven by the Dubai Police Force.
The police force in Dubai has an impressive fleet of supercars at its disposal including its very own Bugatti Veyron. Their luxurious fleet began with a Lamborghini Aventador obtained in 2013, though they have subsequently added to the fleet over the years with a range of covet-worthy supercars.
The Bugatti Veyron clinched the Dubai Police Force a Guinness World Record for the fastest in-service police car in the world. While the Veyron isn’t the fastest car in the world, it’s certainly the quickest amongst police forces across the globe.
What cars have graced the Dubai Police Force’s fleet?
The Dubai Police Force may have raised some eyebrows with their initial acquisition of a Lamborghini Aventador but for the supercar enthusiast (and no doubt members of the police force), things would get even better. The police force has welcomed a slew of luxurious supercars to the fold, including a Ferrari FF, McLaren MP4-12C, Bentley Continental GT, Nissan GT-R, Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG, and BMW i8.
One of their most impressive acquisitions is an Aston Martin One-77, of which only 77 were made in total. Interestingly for this car, it had to be changed from its original silver to white to fit in with the Dubai Police Force’s green and white livery.
What do the police use the supercars for?
In a land filled with fast cars, where it’s not unreasonable to expect those breaking the law to be moving at high speed while doing so, you might think the police have obtained their own fleet of supercars in preparation for high-speed pursuits. This is not however the driving factor behind the force’s impressive fleet.
The primary reason for obtaining these luxurious cars? PR for tourists and members of the public.
Dubai knows the value of tourism and there’s no denying the allure of fast, luxurious cars. The supercars are used to patrol in tourist areas and you’ll likely spot them near attractions such as the Burj Kalifa, Dubai Mall or Jumeirah Beach Residence.
The supercar fleet is intended to strengthen relations between the police and members of the public, serving as a means for the police to display their friendliness and connect with the public. The cars understandably attract a lot of attention, with some people even putting in joking requests to be “arrested” so they can ride in the cars.
Additionally, the supercars are used as a tool for the police to demonstrate gender equality. Female police officers drive the Ferrari and the Bentley, the fleet’s most expensive cars.
Last but not least, the police force intends to utilize the fleet to demonstrate the government’s commitment to the environment. This may sound counterintuitive in relation to supercars but the police force wants at least a quarter of the fleet to be hybrid or electric cars by 2030.
Car manufacturers want in on the action
While the supercars are an undeniable draw for members of the public, many of whom love snapping pictures next to them, car manufacturers are also keen to get up close and personal with the police force.
Being part of the Dubai Police Force’s fleet of supercars offers huge marketing opportunities for car manufacturers. The fleet draws attention not just in Dubai but is known across the world and securing a place in the fleet is considered highly prestigious.
No need for speed, just plenty of PR charm
In one of the most luxurious and wealthy places in the planet, where fast cars are par for the course, there’s an odd sort of symmetry to the Dubai Police Force driving luxurious supercars. Though some supercar enthusiasts may lament that these cars aren’t hurtling down highways in pursuit of criminals, plenty of tourists and members of the public appreciate their ready proximity for a quick photo or three.
A police force should serve its country and there’s more than one way to do that. With Dubai’s fleet of police supercars, the real charm here is the PR coup; there’s no denying it’s a means of publicity for the police and Dubai in general, but there’s also no denying that members of the public love it.